Fruit packer and shaper



W. H. TAYLOR.

FRUIT PACK ND SHAPER.

APPLICATION M'AY 3.1920.

1 ,360,47 1 Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

mm WWW Q W12? Zz zpZar G 3% WILLIAM HAYES TAYLOR, OF ANNA, ILLINOIS.

, FRUIT PACKER Ann sHAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 30 192() Application filedMay 3, 1920. Serial No. 378,506

i '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. TA LOR, acitizen of the United States, residing at Anna, in the county of Unionand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fruit Packers and Shapers; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and. exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled. in the art to which it appertains to make andusethe same.

My invention relates to improvements in fruit packers, and it has moreparticular reference to a hand appliance which is used to properly packfruit into barrels or baskets in a compact form.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an appliance whichmay be easily manipulated by hand, and one which will properly pack thefruit and at the same time will not bruise the fruit because of itscushion-like effect thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the abovementioned type which is constructed in such a manner that it will form ameans for shaping the fruit to present an attractive and uniformappearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned type which is simple in construction, strong, du rable andinexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device constructed in accordancewith my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof, partly in section.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a body, preferably a metal plate,which has its under face concaved. Stretched across this concave underface of the plate is a fabric covering which is attached to, and spacedaway from said under face, whereby an air space is formed, therebyforming a cushion and preventing injury or bruising of the fruit to agreat extent. I also preferably employ means to vary this air space ortension of the covering, whereby said covering will yieldmore or less asdesired.

Y In the drawings,\vl1erein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a body,preferably in the form of a metal cone-shaped plate, which has its underface concaved or cone-shaped as shown. A

suitable handle 2 issecured thereto in any desired manner.

A fabric covering 3, preferably made of canvas, is stretched over theconcave under face of the body 1 and overt-he edge thereof as shown at4. A draw-stringo is passed through the holes 6 near the edge of theportion whereby the covering is properly held, and is adjustable on saidbody. This construction will thus form an air cushion or space betweenthe said concave under face and the canvas cover.

In order to place the cover 3 under tension at all times and regulatesaid tension, I drill or punch holes 7 in the plate 1 adjacent to thecenter thereof. The canvas cover is also provided with apertures orholes 8 which are adapted to aline with the holes 7,

whereby when a cord or other tying element 9 is passed through the holes7 and 8 in the manner shown, the tension of the covering may be madegreater or less as may be desired.

When it is desired to vary the space between the under face of the plateand covering it is obvious that the draw-string 5 will be loosened ortightened accordingly. When it is desired to vary the tension of thesaid covering, the, cord 9 will be loosened or tightened as the case maybe.

Hence, it will be seen that my packing todl, because of its cushion oryielding effect on the fruit, will not mar, or bruise the same duringthe packing or shaping operation. I

It is desired, in some instance, especially when packing soft fruit,such asover-ripe peaches and the like, to place raw cotton or any othersoft material between the covering 3 and the under face plate 1 to forman exceedingly soft and yieldable pad which will not mash the fruit.

As hereinbefore stated, the body 1 is preferably in the form of acone-shaped plate, which construction affords a convenient means forshaping fruit in a basket. In other words, when it is desired to form acone design or fancy face such as is formed to present an attractiveappearance in a fruit basket, the body or plate 1 will be slightlyrotated or twisted by means of the handle 2, and the fruit will becaused to move toward the center orapex of the body and thus formed intothe desired coneshape. The cone design of the fruit may be made high orlow by moving the cover away from or drawing it closer to the apex ofthe cone-shaped body as is obvious.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention as herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A hand tool for packing and shaping fruit comprising a body having aconcave underface, and a flexible covering disposed over said underfaceand spacedtherefrom to form an air space, thereby providing a cushion.

2. A fruit packer comprising a body having a concave under face, afabric cover secured to the edge of said body and spaced from ering tothe center of the body, whereby the tension of the cover maybe varied.

4:. A fruit packer comprising a body hav- "ing a cone-shaped underface'and provided with apertures, a handle adjacent to its centersecured to said body, a fabric covering stretched over the under face ofsaid body and extending over the outer edge thereof, and provided with aseries of openings near'the edge thereof, a draw-string passing throughthe openings in the covering adapted to adjustably secure the coveringto the body, and a tying element passed through said covering andthrough the openings in the body to vary the tension of the covering,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

WILLIAM HAYES TAYLOR.

